SANDAKPHU: A WINTER PARADISE

 Trekking in February sounds so superficial. Is that even possible, is it even sane to go trekking in mountains, where it is sure to snow? I mean sure why not. An adventure wouldn’t be an adventure if it doesn’t have something precarious about it. That’s the specialty of Sandakphu Peak, being surrounded by Mt. Everest, Mt Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Chomo Lonjo, the beauty of the surrounding area, intensifies during the winter months.

The Sandakphu Trek is situated on the Northernmost corner of West Bengal, in the town of Darjeeling, which is dubbed as the ‘Queen of Hills’. The Singalila National Park covers the Singalila ridge and Singalila range. The Singalila Ridge is a north-south mountain ridge going from West Bengal through Sikkim into the Indian Himalayas. The trail is accessible for about eight months of the year. The best time to stroll through it is during the winter months as the humidity in West Bengal is on the low and the views are magical and fascinating

The mountain is situated in West Bengal, in between the borders of India and Nepal. The trail works in such a way that trekkers often cross between the two countries. It sounds impossible, but that’s the beauty of this trail, you think that you are walking in India while in reality, you may probably have one foot inside Nepal. If this doesn’t convince you then how about peaks that resemble the sleeping Buddha? The Kanchendzonga range resembles the sleeping Buddha, the sight is surreal and cannot be put into words. It truly is a miracle of nature. Sandakphu is also home to over 600 species of Orchids, when we say that there is no place like this, we mean it.

The Sandakphu Phalut Trek is at an elevation of 11,930 ft on the Singalila Ridge, making it easier for beginners as well as one exciting trail for regular trekkers as well. It will take you 7 days to comfortably go through this journey, where you will travel for 73 km. The trail is considered to be one of the safest due to its terrains. The trek is also pocket-friendly.

The journey to the Sandakphu Peak begins at New Jalpaiguri. A drive from New Jalpaiguri for 3–4 hours will take you to Manebhanjan. During the journey, you will constantly be surrounded by mountains, tea estates, and villages. From Manebhanjan the trek for Tumling begins. The distance between the two is about 11 km and takes 5–6 hours. Tumling is at an altitude of 9,500 ft. The lines between India and Nepal start to fade here, Tumling fascinates you with its beautiful sunset, making it seem as if you are in heaven. The trek from Tumling to Kalipokhri is about 14 km and takes 6–7 hours. Kalipokhri is at an elevation of 10,400 ft. Here you will be mesmerised by the beauty of the sleeping Buddha, as well as the full Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, Shimbho, Goecha, Kabru, Rathong, Koktang, and Frey. The stunning beauty of the forest of Singalila National Park is sure to keep you awestruck. Finally, the day has come, to trek to the highest point of this journey, Sandakphu. Sandakphu is around 6.5 km away from Kalipokhri and demands the hard work of about 3–4 hours. Sandakphu is at an elevation of 11,930 ft. After a short but arduous journey, you would finally reach your destination. Here you would be blessed by the magical views of the mountain peaks of Makalu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and many more. The temperature after the sunset hits zero, making it very cold. The views from the top of the summit are mesmerising and cannot be compared, if paradise exists it would look like this! From Sandakphu our next stop would be Sabargram/Mole. 

The journey would take about 7–8 hours as the distance to be covered is around 14 km. The trail has a gradual descent, to an altitude of 11,807 ft. The path is filled with alpine berries and rhododendron, giving you a glimpse of nature at its finest. The trail will not let you down as you can still view the beautiful mountains. The sunrise at Sabargram/Mole is magnificent. The following day, the journey to Gorkhey via Phlaut begins. The best views of Kanchanjunga are at this trail. The trek is about 17 km and takes 5–6 hours of hard work. Gorkhey is at an elevation of 7,546 ft. Although it is one of the longest trails of this journey, as it is a descent it is less tiring. The trek to Sepi takes about 5–6 hours as the travel is about 15 km. Sepi is at an elevation of 6,230 ft. During this part of the trek, you will come across the Bamboo forests where Red Pandas and Bears are found. Now it is time to drive back to New Jalpaiguri, marking a beautiful end to this amazing journey.

Sandakhpu is the perfect destination for your winter getaway. While being surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and fascinating flora and fauna, this is paradise on earth.

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